Hints from Heloise 6/13/2013

Dear Heloise: My freezer and fridge smell! I do have boxes of baking soda in both, yet they still smell moldy. What do I do?

— E. Reed, via fax

Simply putting a box of baking soda in the fridge probably won’t do it. There are many other causes for such a smell. Start by checking for leaky containers and old leftovers, and clean out the veggie bins!

Go ahead and put a new box of baking soda (or a bowl of baking soda on a shelf) in to help absorb future odors. For more great timesaving and money-saving hints using vinegar and baking soda, order my two pamphlets by sending $8 and a long, self-addressed, stamped (86 cents) envelope to: Heloise/Baking Soda/Vinegar, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. Keep in mind that the baking soda in the refrigerator should be replaced often, and DO NOT use it for cooking afterward! The odors it absorbed could transfer into your food!

— Heloise

Corner helper

Dear Heloise: I have a hint for if you have an area rug where one of the corners starts to curl up. Find a circular metal washer the size of that corner of the rug. Turn over the corner and measure to make sure the washer fits within the corner. Take a needle and thread, and sew the washer to the rug. The weight of the washer will relax that corner.

— Diane W. in Kentucky

You can use duct tape, too!

— Heloise

Cleaning caps

Dear Heloise: Please, please reprint the instructions on how to wash my caps to remove the sweat stains. I cut the column out of the paper but lost it. I have to save my caps! — Esther M. in Texas

Oh no, Esther! Don’t worry. You can try a couple of things. Just be sure the caps are not old or valuable and are washable.

You can wash them by hand with gentle soap and water, scrubbing the inside stains with a toothbrush. Rinse well under running water, then hang to dry or place on an upside-down metal bowl.

You also can use the TOP rack of the dishwasher. Take a clothespin to secure each cap to the top rack. Use the normal amount of dishwasher detergent, stop the dishwasher after the rinse cycle, remove the caps and hang to dry.